Before Sunday's game with the Rockets at Target Center, Timbewolves guard Jimmy Butler talked anxiously about his return, certain his team would be in the playoff mix when he returned – either near the end of the regular season or for the playoffs.

The Miami Heat continued to offer their support to the Parkland community and those impacted by the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, with an appearance at a Sunday basketball event.

Talking for the first time since his Feb. 25 surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee, Timberwolves All-Star guard Jimmy Butler sounded like a man aiming for a return before the regular season ends.

The Orlando Magic suffered perhaps the worst defeat of their disastrous 2017-18 season on Jan. 23. The Magic lost, 105-99, at home to the Sacramento Kings, a struggling opponent that was playing on the second night of a back-to-back and was resting its two best veteran players.